Spring-motor



K. R. AKEHLUND.

SPRING MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED 050.14. 1915. RENEWED JAN. 2. 1920.

m. 2 m a W V s n mm aw d 3 m i n m P K. R. AKERLUND.

SPRING MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 003.14. 1916. RENEWED JAN. 2.1920;

1,385,351 Patented uly 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'7 16 46 :24 U- E I 422 ,g/za 25 i 4 1! y a? w K- R. AKEHLUND.

SPRING MOTOR.

APrucmon FILED 0:0.14. 191s. nun/0 mu. 2. 1320.

Patented July 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- V Fair/f War UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPRINGFMOTOR.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, :KARL It. Anmmnxn,

a citizen of the United Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sprin -Motors, of which the following is a full, c ear, concise, and exact description. My invention relates to motors and has for its object the provision of means whereby a prime motor may operate a load, such as the hands of a clock, through the intervention of a secondary motor, the latter motor being a spring motor and the first motor being preferably a spring motor. The load operating torque is directly furnished by the setondary motor and as the spring of this motor is preferably frequently wound by the primary motor such torque may be substantially uniform.

I will explain my invention very fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a front View of such embodiment with the front of the easing strupture removed; Fig. 2 is a side view of the equipment shown in Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is a, horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view taken on line -l-l of Fig. 1; and Figs. 5, (3 and 7 are detail views of parts of the me. hanism and illustrate 'reitain operations, Fig. 7 being a view on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

The winding motor employed is preferably a spring motor and such a spring inotor may be inclusive of a spring barrel 1 which is adapted to rotate and a winding shaft 2 whi h is normally stationary but which may be turned in a counter elocle wise direction in order to wind the coiled tape spring (not shown) which is n bored at itsrinner end to the shaft 2 and at its outer end to the spring barrei 3. The shaft 2 carries a ratchet wheel 3 that is engaged bf, a pawl 42 which prevents the shaft 2 from turning in a lockwise direction whereby the spring barrel 1 alone may turn when the winding motor functions. A gear wheel 4 is fixed with respect to the spring barrel to turn therewith. This gear wheel operates two trains of gears. to which gea trains the pinion 5 and the gear 6 are ermine-n. The pinion 5 is in mesh with the gear 4 and the States, residing at Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1y 26, 1921 14, 1916, Serial No. 136,943. 'Renewed January 2, 1920. Serial No.

gear 6 that is fixed with respect to the pinion 5 is in mesh with a pinion 7 fixed with re spect to a gear 8 that is in mesh with a pinion 9 fixed with respect to a gear 10 that is in mesh with a pinion 11 fixed with respect to a ear 12 that is in mesh with a pinion 13 fixed with respect to a gear 14 that is in mesh with a pinion 15 fixed with respect to a rotating brake element 16 that is preferably in the form of a brake drum. The rotating brake element or drum 16 is normally engaged by a brake 17 to stop the operation of the winding motor. Inasmuch as the brake element 16 is rotatable at a high rate of speed at low torque owing to the speed increasing and power reducing gear train described, but little brake pro."- sure is required. The brake is applied to the brake drum by means of mechanism of which a link 18 constitutes apart and which will later be described. The brake is released by a brake spring 19 having one end mounted at 19 upon the frame 19 audits other end engaging'the underside of a pin 20 carried upon a brake arm 21 upon the outer end of whirh the brake 1'? is mounted.

The gear 6 is also in mesh with a pinion 22 which is fixed upon a shaft 23. The inner end of a torque exerting or load oper ating coil spring 24 (Fig. 4) is anchored to the shaft 23 and the outer end 01? this spring is anchored to a spring barrel 25 to which is secured a gear wheel 26 rotatable around the shaft 23. The gear wheel 26 is in mesh with a pinion 2? that is fixed with respect to a gear 28 that is in mesh with a pinion 29 fixed with respect to a gear 30 that is in mesh with a pinion 31 fixed with respect to a gear 32 that is in mesh with a pinion 33 fixed with respect to an escape ment wheel 34 that cooperates with an escapement 35 to regulate the speed at which the spring 24 may unwind. lVhen the gear 6 is stationary the shaft 23 is stationary and the coil spring 24 of the secondary motor reacts against the same to perform its work. hen the gear wheel 0 is permitted to rotate, which happens when the brake 17 is released. the shaft 23 is turned by the winding motor to wind the spring 24:. Inerther ease the spring 24 is constantly unwinding (in the embodiment of the invention illus trated but to which characteristic the invention is not to be limited) to perform its clock hand operating o: other function. The speed with which the gear 6 Winds the spring 24 materially exceeds the rate of unwinding of the spring so that whenever the gear 6 is turned the spring 24 will be wound, The secondary spring motor is effective to elevate the link 18 at stated intervals in or der that the brake 17 may be released at such intervals whereby the gear 6 is then permitted to rotate to wind the spring 24 as will be fully understood from a'description that is to follow.

The brake 17 is normally applied due to the depression of the link 18 and this depression of such link is effected by means of a coiled spring 36 having one end anchored to an arm 37 and the other end in engagement with a bell crank lever 38 mounted at its elbow to turn upon shaft 38. Link 18 is connected with one arm of the bell crank. The bell crank arms are substantially at right angles to each other, as shown. The spring 36 is disposed around shaft 38 and serves to turn the bell crank in a clockwise direction to depress said link 18 to effect the normal application of the brake 17 to the brake element 16. A second arm 39, fixed with respect to the arm 37 to constitute therewith an arm structure. has a nose 40, (projecting at an angle from the upper end of arm 39 into the plane of rotation of disk 41) that bears upon the pcriphery of a notched disk .41 (fixed with respect to gear 26). The nose 40 serves to position the arm 37 and its extension 44 and the pin 43 carried by said extension and thereby to position the right hand end (Figs. and 6) of the spring 36 to enable such spring to effect downward pressure upon the link 18. The arms 37 and 39 turn together as a unit upon the shaft 33 independently of the bell crank 38. These arms lie between the arms of the bell crank, arm 37 being longer than arm 39. The disk 41 has notches 42 formed therein and as this disk turns with the gear 26 these notches a re successively presented to the nose upon the upper end of the arm 39. \Vhcnevcr a notch 42 is presented to the nose 40 the spring 36 moves the arm 39 inwardly to an extent which is limited by the pin 43 car ried upon the extension 44 of the arm 37, this pin intervening between the right hand end of the spring 36 and the left hand arm of the bell crank 38 (Figs. 5 and 6). The downward pressure of the spring 36 upon the link 18 is now'eliminated or sufficiently reduced to permit the spring 19 to raise the arm 21 and remove the brake 17 from the brake drum 16. The spring 19, in this operation. also raises the link '13 to complete the inward movement of the nose 40 within the notch 42. The spring 19, when thus functioning. holds the bell crank 38 in its extreme counter-clockwise position.

The disk 45 is rotatable with respect to the rigidly connected gear 26 and disk 41,

said disk 45 being connected with these elements 26 and 41 through the intermcdiation of thespring 24., it being understood that the disk 45 (together with the pinion 22) is in fixed connection with the shaft 23 to which the inner end of the spring 24 is attached, the outer end of this spring being attached to the spring barrel 25 that is carried by the gear 26. The"gear 4 is adapted to wind the spring 24, this gear 4 being driven by theshaft 2 of the main spring motor 1 and performing its spring winding function through the intermediation of the pinion 5, gear 6 and pinion 22.' The pinion 22, being in fixed connection with the shaft 23, is coupled with the inner end of the spring 24. .When the pinion 22 is permitted to rotate the shaft 23 is turnedto wind the spring 24. "When the pinion 22 is held from rotation, and evendurin'g the ti'me it" is rotating, the spring 24 reacts a ainst the shaft 23 to operate the load of his spring, this operation of the load of the spring 24 therefore continuing while the shaft 23 and pinion 22 are at rest orwhile these elements are being turned by the gear 6 to rewind the spring 24. The spring 24 operates its load through the gear 26. rotatable with respect to shaft 23, and the train of gears in which the gear 26 is included. The gears 4, 5 and 6 are permitted to turn the pinion 22 to wind the spring 24 during the time that the brake 17 is held released and this brake is held released until the notch 45, or 45*,in

the cam disk 45 (turned by shaft 23) re ceives the cam roller 46 upon the bell crank 38, whereupon the spring 36 is free to swing the bell crank in a direction to pull the link 18 downwardly to applythe brake 17 to the brake drum 16 to stop the motor 1 to stop the winding of the spring 24. As stated, the disk 41 turns with the gear 26 and with respect to the disk 45. During the unwinding period of the spring 24 this spring turns the disk 41 to a position in which the pin 59 upon the disk 41 engages the outer end of the latch arm 48. This engagement of a pin with the latch arm 48 is effective to separate the latch 48 from the nose 40 (upon the arm 39) when this nose is in aline ment with one of the radial notches 42 in the disk 41 whereupon the spring 36 is free to swing the arm 39 and nose 40 toward the shaft 23, the nose 40 moving in the notch 42. )Vhen the arm 39 is thus moved toward the shaft 23 the arm 37 that is in fixed relation with the arm 39 also moves toward the shaft 23 whereupon the pin 43 upon the extension 44 of the arm 37 engages the shoulder 38 upon the bell crank 38 to move the bellcrank in a direction in which the link 18 will be moved upwardly to lift the brake arm 21 to separate the brake element 17 from the brake element 16 whereupon the spring motor 1 is again free to rewind the spring 24 through lllll of the secondary motor many times.

the intermediation of the gearing 4, 5, 6 and 22, this rewinding being concluded when the roller 46 again enters a notch or 45 as has been explained. The spring 36 is enabled to perform its function because one of the cam rollers 47 upon the disk 45 engages the arm 37 to cause the pin 43 to place the spring 36 under sufiicient tension so that when the notch 45, or notch 45 receives the roller 46 said sprin 36 is adapted to exert sufficient downward pull upon the link 18 to apply the brake 17 with suflicient pressure to the brake drum 16. When a roller 47 upon disk 45 pushes upon the arm 37 it also moves the arm 39 outwardly, these arms being in fixed relation and when the arm 39 is pushed sufficiently outward its nose 40 is caught by the latch 48 that is pressed downwardly by a spring 49 (Fig. 1). This latch operates to hold the arm 39 away from the disk 41 after the operating roller 47 has passed out of engagement with the arm 37 so that the nose 40 cannot drop back into the notch 42 that receives it.

The primary or winding motor may have a stifi and long spring adapted, after having been wound up, to wind the spring 24 The spring 24 may be wound at sufliciently short intervals to enable this spring to exert substantially uniform or constant torque upon the load to be operated thereby. This load may be attached tothe secondary motor in any suitable way and while I have illustrated one form of escapement for regulating the speed of operation of this load I do not wish to be limited to the employment of such a device.

By the arrangement illustrated the secondary motor oes not have to operate "against the force of the brake releasing spring 19 or against the force of the brake applying spring 26, and the force of these springs is uniform irrespective of the tension of the spring of the primary motor. By this arrangement the torque exerted by the secondary motor is practically not inter:

fered with and is uniformly applied to its load.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; and mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a lever connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and'in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake.

2. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a lever connected with the brake, an arm" structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tensionof 85 said spring upon the brake; and a'spring operating upon the brake to release it when said portion of the'arm structureis received in said notch.

3. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in wind ing relation; mechanism forlefi'ecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a lever connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the 100 notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; and a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said spring under tension to 106 reapply the brake. V

4. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating 110 spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brakeand which is inclusive of a lever connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm struc ture with the lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a spring op- 1 0 crating upon the brake to release it when said portion of the arm structure is received in said notch; and a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under tension to reap ply the brake.

5. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a lever connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; arc-am element operated by the primary motor for again placing said-spring under tension to reapply the brake; a latch for engaging said arm structure when moved by said cam element; and means operated bythe secondary motor for releasing the latch when the brake is to be released. a

6. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary ture may be received to reduce the tensioir of said spring upon the brake; a, spring operating upon the brake to release it when sa1d portion of the arm structure is received primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under tension to reapply the brake; a latch for engaging said arm structure when moved by said cam element; and means operated by the secondary motor for releasing the latch when the brake is to be released.

7. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the,

release of the brake, and which is inclu-' sivc of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the semndary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation permitting movement of the bell crank lever by said spring to apply the brake.

8. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which ,the first motoris in wind- ,be receivedhto reducethe tension of said spring upon the brake ;',;a spring operating upon thegbrake to release it when said portion of the arm .strm l' ureisreceived in said znotchgand a cam diskoperatedby the primary motor and operating upon the other armof thebell cran k lever and having formation permitting movement of the bell crank leverby said'first aforesaid spring to applythebrake a E:

9. The combinationiwith aprimary motor of a brake for gnormally checking ,the

ope at n-o h p im ryr; a o d- ,ary motor, which includes ta {load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relationomechanism for eifecting the release of the brake ,amLWhich is inclusive of a bell crankdever having one arm connected with- -themrake, an arm structure. a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell. crank lever, and a notched disk driven hy the secondaryvmotor and; in the inotchof which apportion of said arms structure may be rece ved to; reduce the tension in said notch a cam element operated by the of-saidspring'upon the brake; a cam elementlioperated Joy the primary-motor for againplacing said; spring under tension to the bell crankglever by saidlspring to apply the brake.

I 10. The combinationwith a primary motor; of a brake. for normally checking the operation of;the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes alload operating spring .with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a spring operating upon the brake to release it when said portion of the arm structure is received in said notch; a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under tension to reapply the brake; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having 1 formation permitting movement of the bell crank lever by the first aforesaid spring to apply the brake.

11. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the )rimary motor; a second- 'ary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting therelease of the brake and'which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one armiconnected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with thebell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tensionof said spring u on the brake; a cam element operated by t e primary motor for again placing said spring under tension to reapplyvlthe brake; a latch for engaging said arm structure when moved by said canr element; means operated by the secondary motor for releasing the latch when the.brake is to he released; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation permitting movement of the held crank lever by said spring to apply the brake.

12. T he combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclu sive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a spring operating upon the brake to release it When said portion of the arm structure is received in said notch; a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under ten sion to reapply the brake; a latch for engaging said arm structure when moved by said cam clement; means operated by the secondary motor for releasing the latch when the brake is to be released; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation per mitting movement of the bell crank lever by the first aforesaid spring to apply the brake.

13. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a second .ary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for elfecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a-portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension 'of said spring upon the brake; a cam elementoperated'by the primary motor for again placing said spring under tension to reapply the brake; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation permittin .movement of the bell crank lever by s'ai spring to. apply the brake, said cam element being carried by said cam disk.

14. The combination with a primary motor; of a'brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the primary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a spring operating upon the brake to release it when said portion of the arm structure is received in said notch; a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under tension to reapply the brake; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation permitting movement of the bell crank lever hy the first aforesaid spring to apply the brake. said cam element being carried by said cam disk.

15. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for effecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm strni-tnrc, a spring connecting the arm structure with the bell crank lever and a notrhcd disk driven by the secondary motor and in the notch of which a portion of said arm structure may be received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a ram element operated by the primary motor for again placing said spring under tension to reapply the brake; a latch for engaging said a rm structure when moved by said cam element; means operated by the secondary motor for releasing the latch when the brake is to be released; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the hell crank lever and having formation permitting movement of the hell crank lever by said spring to apply the brake said cam element being carried by said cam disk.

16. The combination with a primary motor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a secondary motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; mechanism for efi'ecting the release of the brake and which is inclusive of a bell crank lever having one arm connected with the brake, an arm structure, a spring connecting the arm structure with the hell crank lever, and a notched disk driven by the secondary motor and in the not h of which a portion of said arm strue ture may he received to reduce the tension of said spring upon the brake; a spring op erating upon the brake to release it when said portion oi the arm structure is received in said notch a cam element operated by the primary motor for again placing said first aforesaid spring under tension to reapply the brake; a. latch for engaging said arm structure when moved by said cam element; means operated by the secondary motor for releasing the latch when the brake is to be released; and a cam disk operated by the primary motor and operating upon the other arm of the bell crank lever and having formation permitting movement of the bell crank lever by the first aforesaid spring to apply the brake, said cam element being carried by said. cam disk.

17. The combination with a primary m0- tor; of a brake for normally checking the operation of the primary motor; a seconda ry motor which includes a load operating spring with which the first motor is in winding relation; :1 spring for releasing the brake; mechanism governed by the secondary motor for preventing and permitting the brake releasing operation of said spring; a link connected with said brake; and means governed by the primary motor for pulling upon said link to reapply the brake.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this eighth day of" December A. D. 1916.

KARL R. AKERLUND. 

